Sales & Marketing - Case Studies

Rank on Exit: Corporal

Years of Service: 14 Years

Qualifications Gained: NVQ Assessor qualification

 

Mark Price, 41,
served in the Royal Marines for 14 years, specialising as a Weapons Instructor and leaving as a Corporal in 2000. While serving, he says he gained ‘too many civilian qualifications to mention!’, but has found his NVQ Assessor qualification ‘extremely useful’, as well as ‘everything to do with instructing and presenting’ that he learned while in uniform.

He found his CTW helpful, and also took a Dive Instructor course at Cairns Dive Centre, Australia, as part of his resettlement training – which was, he says, ‘amazing, extremely professional’ – as well as RFA Powerboat levels I and II.

He found his first civilian employment when he ‘walked up to the owner of a dive operation in Thailand and asked for a job’. He stayed with him for two years and is now working as a Tour Consultant for the Resort Group, a job he has been in for 15 months. Prior to that, he says, ‘I sold property for them as manager of a real estate company.’ His current job involves ‘taking a five-star approach to clients, who have bought anything from a studio apartment to a front-line villa on a five-star resort. I have extensive knowledge of Cape Verde, where I am based, including the different islands, and can just about speak the language. Entertainment, consolidation and further sales whenever possible are the bread and butter of this enviable position!

‘I like every aspect of the job,’ he continues. ‘It is so varied. You wait around at airports a great deal, but being a former Royal Marine, I’m used to it and can usually find something to do.’ Other similarities between his life now and in the Services are that ‘You always have to think on your feet in diverse situations, and come up with a solution. Although I totally embraced Service life, I enjoy the stability (location-wise) and flexibility of my current job, together with the control I have over my life now and the phenomenal earning potential that there is with the Resort Group. I love my job!’

If readers would like to contact Mark for any advice or further information, please email him on mp@theresortgroupplc.com or call 00 238 9851961.

Rank on Exit: Warrent Officer Class 2

Years of Service: Years

Qualifications Gained: -

 

In October 2005, air defence specialist Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael Johnston left the Royal Artillery, because ‘the chances of getting a job when one is 40 years of age are greater than that when one is 55.’ Service in the UK and Germany had trained him to ‘be flexible, and to get on with the job in hand without any great discussion. Multi tasking was also of benefit. Another aspect would be the sourcing of information that is not openly available.’

Much of the information given at his ‘Career Transition Workshop was common sense and I had started preparation for transition to civilian life approximately two years in advance.’ Word of mouth led to a job with easyJet in Germany, enabling him ‘to get on to the net and look for another job without being unemployed. I was not happy. I jumped at this job too quickly and I took the safe option at the start.’

 

For the last two-and-a-half years, Johnston has been International Sales Manager for Delius Textiles ‘responsible for 14 countries including the UK, Ireland, Middle East, Sweden and Norway, for all aspects of selling contract fabrics into and for the hospitality market. I work directly to the directors of the company, and the job involves meeting architects, interior designers and contractors.

He enjoys variety with the people he meets, a great deal of responsibility and is trusted to get on with the job in hand without any questions; making decisions making and implementing them without having to seek authorisation. His only dislike is a long commute from home to office when he is not travelling.